~Luke Odershaw, Class of 2025

Within the excerpts from Schindler’s List and At the Heart of the White Rose, Oskar Schindler and the Scholls siblings acted as upstanders by risking their lives for the better. To begin, Schindler was a guy who worked for the Nazis, but after working with a group of Jewish employees, he realized that they were people too and wanted to help the Jewish employees out. He risked his life to save his Jewish employees by helping his employees survive. According to Oskar Schindler, “At his own expense, he provided his Jewish employees with a life-sustaining diet, unlike the starvation-level rations mandated by the Nazis” (Schindler). This quote portrays that Schindler was striving to help his Jewish employees survive the Nazis. 

It shows Schindler supplying his Jewish employees with food so that they can stay in a hiding place away from the Nazis. In this passage, the Scholls siblings disagree with the Nazis’ actions and secretly make pamphlets to help people recognize what the Natzis are doing. The Scholls siblings are trying to start a rebellion with the German citizens without the Natzis finding out. They are risking their lives for the better of Germany. “On February 18, 1943, Hans and Sophie Scholl were caught distributing pamphlets at the University of Munich. Carrying some 1,700 copies of their latest White Rose leaflet inside a suitcase, they walked through the corridors of a main building on campus, depositing small piles of the pamphlet as doorways and on window sills” (Scholls). The quote shows the Scholls distributing many pamphlets to people in a university but was unfortunately caught and sent to a life sentence. 

They sacrificed their lives, but now many Germans know about the Natzis and will hopefully spread the word. The sister in the Scholls family, Sophie, is risking her life by sneaking into college, hoping others will follow so they can get a better education. “Hans’s sister, Sophie, arrived in Munich to start her formal college education, which was delayed due to state-imposed labor service. When Sophie learned of her brother participating in anti-Nazi activities, she insisted on joining the secret group. Both knew their actions could lead to their deaths” (Scholls). This quote demonstrates the courage Sophie had to try and start a trend by going to college, even knowing that if the Nazis found out, she would face execution. Due to the law of treason, people are not allowed to go to college. 

Ultimately, Oscar Schindler and the Scholls siblings were risk-takers, but it was for the better. They saved many lives but at the risk of their own. Their willingness to risk their lives to protect the greater good demonstrates their generosity and tireless commitment to the fight against injustice. 

Even though they were in severe danger, their actions ultimately had a significant impact on a great number of citizens’ lives and left a long-lasting legacy of bravery and heroism.